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Reset or bypass HDD password lock

A

AMD_Gamer

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Joined
Jan 20, 2002
Messages
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Is it possible to reset/bypass the HDD passwords that newer drives have? I have a Toshiba drive here that has the password set and from my understanding standing after combing google for an answer is that this is almost impossible. I found the program hddunlock but it is not working. The password is stored on some kind of firmware on the drive itself and only the HDD manufacturer has tools to reset or clear it. I also found lists online of master passwords but they are old and no longer work.

http://aps2.toshiba-tro.de/kb0/TSB6B01MC000CR01.htm

CAUTION:
If you forget your HDD User Password, TOSHIBA will NOT be able to assist you, and your HDD will be rendered COMPLETELY and PERMANENTLY INOPERABLE. TOSHIBA will NOT be held responsible for any loss of data, any loss of use or access to your HDD, or for any other losses to you or any other person or organization resulting from the loss of access to your HDD.
If you can not accept these conditions, do not registere the HDD User Password.
Click to expand...
 
Depending on how the password system is implenented, they could have made it very very difficult, essentially impossible, to recover the password.
 
Well, I'm no expert but if the idea is data security, storing the entire protection system on a removeable replaceable part is probably not a great idea. I'd probably be inclined to store it on the disk itself. I'm not saying this is how it's done, just how I think it should be done.
 
dustNbone said:
Well, I'm no expert but if the idea is data security, storing the entire protection system on a removeable replaceable part is probably not a great idea. I'd probably be inclined to store it on the disk itself. I'm not saying this is how it's done, just how I think it should be done.
Click to expand...

Most are stored on the platters themselves.

But if you have another drive like it laying around....try it and find out!

Otherwise you will need hardware to unlock it
 
AMD_Gamer said:
Is it possible to reset/bypass the HDD passwords that newer drives have? I have a Toshiba drive here that has the password set and from my understanding standing after combing google for an answer is that this is almost impossible. I found the program hddunlock but it is not working. The password is stored on some kind of firmware on the drive itself and only the HDD manufacturer has tools to reset or clear it. I also found lists online of master passwords but they are old and no longer work.

http://aps2.toshiba-tro.de/kb0/TSB6B01MC000CR01.htm
Click to expand...

Do you have data on this drive that you absolutely, positively have to get at, or is this just a project for fun? There are a few companies that will unlock drives, most are in Thailand and will cost you many times the value of the drive which is why it only makes sense if you HAVE to get at the data. What specific drive do you have? Toshiba drives have two passwords, user passwords and master passwords, do you know either of them? If I remember correctly, there was a master password of 32 spaces for toshiba ATA drives.
 
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AMD_Gamer said:
How do they go about doing it?
Click to expand...

If I knew that I would go into business for myself :p Honestly, I don't know if they have internally developed apps to do this, if they brute force it or if there is a backdoor we just don' t know about and they do.
 
Depending on the implementation, it could actually not be possible without brute force. If the system is based on encryption, and the lost password forms a part of the key, then the data you stored on it is for all intents and purposes non existant. Also this means that the password isn't stored anywhere in plain text. This is the whole idea of data security. The very idea that any simple method can defeat this protection would indicate to many (like me) a flawed product. Toshiba may not be yanking your chain at all when they say they cannot help you.
 
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